Workers Say Joliet Housing Authority Violating Low-Income Hiring Law

JOLIET, IL — A peaceful protest will take place Friday over alleged unfair hiring practices perpetrated by the Joliet Housing Authority.

Residents, contractors and concerned citizens will protest the Water’s Edge construction project over minority businesses and housing residents being denied contracts and employment, according to group spokesman James Foster, a lifelong Joliet resident and electrical contractor. The protest will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at the corner of McDonough and Des Plaines

Foster said those displaced over the construction of the Water’s Edge project should be the first ones to get jobs and employment, according to Section 3 rules.

Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 “requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, provide job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.”

“This isn’t the first time that we have not been brought in on certain projects, with the housing authority in particular. You can go back to the Evergreen Terrace situation, you can go back to Liberty Meadows,” Foster said.

Housing Authority of Joliet CEO Michael Simelton said in a statement that the allegations of noncompliance with Section 3 is of great concern.

“The HAJ is fully committed to complying with all of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) requirements including the Section 3 regulation. In an effort to maximize on our Section 3 compliance, the HAJ recently secured the services of the nation’s leading Section 3 compliance services consulting firm (Motivation, Inc.) to provide a new and updated Section 3 policy, in depth implementation procedures and a complete solicitation package for use in all our contracting. This new policy was approved by our Board of Commissioners on September 21, 2016. Motivation, Inc. just completed internal regulatory training for all HAJ staff engaged in any procurement, management, or hiring of direct employment or service contracts on August 15, 2016. Motivation, Inc. has recently conducted meetings with our development partner and local contractors to help explain the requirements of Section 3.”

During many meetings and conversations, several contractors and local residents mistakenly confused Section 3 with “some sort of race/color and gender driven preference,” Simelton said, adding that Section 3 is race and gender neutral.

“A complete training on the Section 3 regulation is being planned for the near future to ensure that the contractors, residents and all parties interested in pursuing any work with HAJ are familiar with the HAJ newly approved Section 3 Policy and the HUD regulation,” Simelton said.

The training will be free of charge and a date and time will be announced sometime in the future.

“We will make every effort to not only ensure compliance but will also continue to educate all of the interested parties on meeting the necessary qualifications to participate in this program,” Simelton said.

Foster said there are local minority companies that do small projects for the housing authority but were not invited to bid on the Water’s Edge project.

“On this project, they weren’t given adequate notice,” Foster said.

Joliet resident Steve Broadway said he’s been a union laborer since 1984, but hasn’t been part of a union for years since he can’t afford the dues. His last construction job was around five years ago.

“We’re not getting a chance,” Broadway said.

photo via Housing Authority of Joliet